Gareth Bale has his sights set on history and hometown glory after targeting a Champions League crown on Welsh soil.

The road to Cardiff 2017 officially began in Monte Carlo on Thursday with the Champions League group stage draw, all part of the build-up to next year's final at the National Stadium of Wales.

Two-time winner and Wales legend Ian Rush conducted the draw having brought the iconic trophy into the star-studded hall as he signalled the significance of the biggest annual event in sport coming to the Welsh capital.

The trophy was last held by Bale as part of a Real side that triumphed against Atletico Madrid in Milan in June, the 26-year-old's second European title.

Real Madrid's Gareth Bale celebrates with the Champions League trophy last season

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Now he is aiming for a third and for Real to make history by being the first team to retain the trophy since its re-branding in 1992 – and says to do it in Wales would make it all the more special.

“It would be incredible,” Bale told WalesOnline. “I was lucky enough to win the European Super Cup in Cardiff and that was an amazing experience to win the trophy in front of my family and friends in my hometown.

“But the Champions League is another level. It is special for Real Madrid and we would make history by being the first to win it back-to-back – and to do that in Cardiff would be very special.

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“It's extra motivation if I needed any, and it's another reason to look forward and be excited about the season ahead.”

Bale was speaking having lost out to Real team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo in the race to be named Uefa's Best Player in Europe.

Bale finished third behind Ronaldo and Atletico striker Antoine Griezmann, but won many admirers among the pan-Europe voting panel for his talismanic performances with Wales during the historic run to the Euro 2016 semi-finals.

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And he refused to be downbeat having become the first British player to make the final shortlist of the award in its fifth year, replacing the original Ballon d'Or whose only Welsh finalist was John Charles in 1959.

“It was great to be there and it shows how well you're doing on the pitch, which is always the most important thing,” Bale said. “The main thing is that I'm enjoying my football, all the other stuff tends to follow that.”